Skill toy

ABSTRACT

A skill toy comprises: a first piece having a male member extended from a male mating end and having a first tether end opposite the male mating end; a second piece having a receptacle in a female mating end and having a second tether end opposite the female mating end; and a tether connected between the first tether end and the second tether end. Other skill toys are disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to skill toys.

BACKGROUND

Many toys employ two objects joined by a string, in which one object is used to catch the other. These include the Kendama or ring and pin, the classic ball and cup, the stick and ball, the balero, mountain bolo, diabolo, and various juggling toys. The Kendama is popular in Japan, and may commonly be found in various forms worldwide. The Kendama is made of two objects: a ball, and a grip held by the hand with a spiked end called a sword. The ball and the grip are connected by a string. A hole is drilled partially through the ball for spearing the ball on the spiked end. Two or more concave cups are placed on either side of the spike, one generally larger than the other. At the base of the grip there is an additional smaller cup. Hundreds of tricks requiring skill, patience, and hand-eye coordination may be performed with the Kendama. The Kendama may be played for self-satisfaction, or in a competitive setting. Many competitive Kendama associations exist across the globe.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a skill toy comprises: a first piece having a male member extended from a male mating end and having a first tether end opposite the male mating end; a second piece having a receptacle in a female mating end and having a second tether end opposite the female mating end; and a tether connected between the first tether end and the second tether end.

In another embodiment, a skill toy comprises: a first piece having a first end, a first encircling sidewall, and a male member extended from the first end; a second piece having a second end, a second encircling sidewall, and a receptacle in the second end; and a tether connected between the first piece and the second piece; the skill toy having a mated position in which the male member is inserted within the receptacle and the first encircling sidewall is adjacent and flush in relation to the second encircling sidewall along an encircling joint defined between the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall.

In an additional embodiment, a skill toy comprises: a first piece having a male member extended from the first piece; a second piece having a second end, with a planar or concave landing surface surrounding a receptacle defined from the second end, and an encircling sidewall sharing a perimeter edge with the second end; and a tether connected between the first piece and the second piece; in which the planar or concave landing surface is sized sufficient to statically support the first piece in an unmated position.

In another embodiment a type of toy is disclosed that a user holds in his or her hand(s) and manipulates skillfully to obtain a desired result; such a toy is often referred to as a juggling toy or skill toy. The toy comprises three parts. The first part of the toy is cylindrical in shape, with one end of the cylinder terminating in a domed shape and the other end terminating in a flat surface with a short pointed peg protruding from its center. The second part of the toy is also cylindrical in shape, with one end of the cylinder terminating in a domed shape and the other end terminating in a flat surface with a hole in its center. The third part of the toy is a string or cord that connects the first and second parts of the toy to one another. The toy is designed such that the peg on the first part of the toy fits into the hole in the second part of the toy. The first and second parts of the toy form a “capsule” shape when fit together. A user can hold any part(s) of the toy while the other part(s) of the toy are manipulated skillfully to obtain a desired result

In various embodiments, there may be included any one or more of the following features:

The skill toy may have a first center of gravity closer to the male mating end than the first tether end, and the second piece may have a second center of gravity closer to the female mating end than the second tether end. In a particular embodiment, the first center of gravity may be closer than or equal to the first tether end than to a tip end defined by the male member.

The skill toy may be such that the first tether end and the second tether end are convex. In one embodiment, the first tether end and the second tether end may be hemi-spherical.

The first piece may have a first encircling sidewall, the second piece may have a second encircling sidewall, and the skill toy may have a mated position in which the male member is inserted. In an additional embodiment, the first encircling sidewall may be adjacent and flush in relation to the second encircling sidewall along an encircling joint defined between the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall. In another embodiment, the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall may be cylindrical in shape. In a particular embodiment, each of the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall may form a geometric shape, such as a regular or irregular polygon, in cross section.

The skill toy may be such that all outer surfaces of a mated combination of the first piece and second piece are convex or planar when in the mated position. In one embodiment, the mated combination may have a capsule shape.

The skill toy may have a plane of symmetry defined through a transition mating surface zone between the first piece and the second piece when in the mated position.

The skill toy may be such that the female mating end has a planar or concave landing surface surrounding the receptacle, and the second encircling sidewall shares a perimeter edge with the female mating end, in which the planar or concave landing surface is sized sufficient to statically support the first piece in an unmated position.

Respective transitional surfaces, of the first encircling sidewall and second encircling sidewalls, adjacent the encircling joint may collectively define a concave or planar shape in an axial direction across the encircling joint.

The first encircling sidewall may share a first perimeter edge with the first end, the second encircling sidewall may share a second perimeter edge with the second end, and the first perimeter edge may contact the second perimeter edge to define the encircling joint when in the mated position.

The male member may be extended from a first end, of the first piece, opposite a first tether end, the second end of the second piece may be opposite a second tether end, and the tether may be connected between the first tether end and the second tether end.

These and other aspects of the device and method are set out in the claims, which are incorporated here by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of a skill toy in an unmated position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the skill toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the skill toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the female member of the skill toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan of the skill toy of FIG. 1 in a mated position.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the skill toy of FIG. 1 in a mated position.

FIG. 7 is a top plan of another embodiment of a skill toy in an unmated position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the skill toy of FIG. 7 in an unmated position.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the skill toy of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a top plan of the skill toy of FIG. 7 in a mated position.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the skill toy of FIG. 7 in a mated position.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skill toy in an unmated position.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the skill toy of FIG. 12 in an unmated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims.

Refering to FIGS. 1-3, a skill toy 10 comprises a first piece 11 having a male member 12 extended from first piece 11, a second piece 15 having a receptacle 17 in second piece 15, and a tether 19 connected between the first and second pieces 11 and 15. First piece 11 may have a first end or male mating end 20, in which the male member 12 is extended from end 20. Second piece 15 may have a second end or female mating end 21, in which the receptacle is in the female mating end 21.

First piece 11 may have a first tether end 22 opposite the male mating end 20, and second piece 15 may have a second tether end 23 opposite the female mating end 21. Tether 19 may be connected between the first tether end 22 and the second tether end 23. The receptacle 17 may be sized larger in corresponding diameter than the male member 12 to allow for user error. Furthermore, the male member may be pointed, again to allow for user error when inserting the male member 12. The male member may be a peg, for example located along a center axis 91 (FIG. 5) of one or more of the first piece 11, second piece 15, and skill toy 10 , for further example coaxial to the central axis 91.

The tether may be elastic, inelastic, or both elastic and inelastic. Because the tether may attach to the first tether end 22 opposite the male mating end 20, various tricks are made possible. For example, the user may hold the second piece 15 above the first piece 11, dangling the first piece 11 with the male member 12 down, and then may quickly move the second piece 15 below the first piece 11 to mate with the first piece 11. Furthermore, the user, from the same starting position, may snap the first piece 11 above the second piece 15, and catch the male member 12 down, with a female landing surface 32 facing up and the female landing surface 32 supporting first piece 11. Additionally, the user may orient the mating end of either piece 11 or 15 outward upon establishing tension in the tether 19 to control movement of the either mating end and induce predictable and controllable rotation of the respective piece upon swinging either the first or second piece. Similarly, because the tether 19 attaches to the second tether end 23 opposite the female mating end 21, a reverse trick of the preceding paragraph may be performed, with the second piece 15 dangling below the first piece 11 in the starting position.

The skill toy may be constructed such that the first piece 11 has a first center of gravity 24 closer to the male mating end 20 than the first tether end 23, and the second piece 15 has a second center of gravity 25 closer to the female mating end 21 than the second tether end 23. Exemplary positions of centers of gravity 24 and 25 are shown in the Figures.

The first tether end 22 and the second tether end 23 may be convex, or hemi-spherical. Because the tether end may be convex, and the center of gravity for each piece is closer to each piece's respective mating end, several advantages may be apparent. For both pieces 11 and 15, either mating end 20, 21 may tend to become oriented towards the direction of motion in flight, making mating of the skill toy 10 in midair easier to accomplish. Air resistance allows the center of gravity to tend to go in front of the center of pressure, in this case in the direction of motion. Further, both pieces 11 and 15 will rotate with their respective mating ends 20, 21 moving at a relatively slower spinning speed than their respective tether ends 22, 23, because their respective mating ends 20, 21 are closer to the axis of rotation (center of gravities 24, 25) than their respective tether ends—making the skill toy easier to mate in midair.

The first center of gravity 24 may be closer than or equal to the first tether end 22 than to a tip end 26 defined by the male member 12. This may make it easier to catch the first piece 11 with tether end 22 on female landing surface 32 with male member 12 up, because the first piece 11 is not top heavy. In some embodiments the first piece 11 may be able to self-right with the male member 12 upwards when lying on the first tether end 22, for example when supported by the female landing surface 32.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the first piece 11 may have a first encircling sidewall 27, and the second piece 15 may have a second encircling sidewall 28. The skill toy 10 may have a mated position in which the male member 12 (FIG. 1) is inserted, as shown in FIG. 5. When mated the first encircling sidewall 27 may be adjacent and flush in relation to the second encircling sidewall 28 along an encircling joint 30 defined between the first encircling sidewall 27 and the second encircling sidewall 28. As shown in FIG. 5, all outer surfaces, such as tether ends 22, 23, and encircling sidewalls 27, 28, of a mated combination 31 of the first piece 11 and second piece 15 may be convex or planar when in the mated position. In the example shown, all out surfaces does not include tether connection parts such as nipple 13. The first encircling sidewall 27 and the second encircling sidewall 28 may be cylindrical in shape. This may allow the user to catch the first piece 11 with encircling sidewall 27 contacting the female landing surface 32 (FIG. 12), or alternately to catch the second piece 15 with female landing surface 32 contacting first ether end 22. The mated combination 31 may have a capsule shape, such as a stadium of rotation shape. Other shapes are possible: the mated combination 31 may form a rectangular box, or have a convex shape, or have other shapes. The first encircling sidewall 27 and the second encircling sidewall 28 may form a geometric shape in cross section, instead of the circular cross-section seen in FIG. 4. Magnets and other suitable clips or devices may be used to assist in mating.

When in mated position 29, the skill toy 10 may appear as a single convex object, and forms a compact shape for storage. Further, a single object with convex or planar surfaces may reduce snagging in pockets. A plane of symmetry 35 (FIG. 5) may be defined through a transition mating surface zone 36 between the first piece 11 and the second piece 15 when in the mated position 29.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the female mating end 21 may have a planar or concave landing surface 32 surrounding the receptacle 17, and the second encircling sidewall 28 may share a perimeter edge 33 with the female mating end 21. The planar or concave landing surface 32 may be sized sufficient to statically support the first piece 11 in an unmated position 34. There may be many possible static positions, for example if landing surface 32 faces up and supports encircling sidewall 27 of first piece 11. Female landing surface 32 may be contoured to fit the curved profile of first piece 11. Landing surface 32 may have a radial width 97 equal to or longer than an axial length 99 of the first piece 11 from male end 20 to tether end 22. In one embodiment, a concave landing surface 32 serves to ensure a flush or contiguous seal between the perimeter edges 38 and 39 of the two pieces 11, and 15, respectively (FIG. 10). The skill toy 10 may have more than one perimeter edge. Referring to FIG. 5 the first encircling sidewall 27 may share a first perimeter edge 38 with the first end 20, the second encircling sidewall shares 28 a second perimeter edge 39 with the second end 21, and the first perimeter edge contacts the second perimeter edge to define the encircling joint 37 when in the mated position 29.

Referring to FIG. 5, the skill toy may have respective transitional surfaces 48 and 49, of the first encircling sidewall 27 and second encircling sidewalls 28, adjacent the encircling joint 37 that collectively define a concave or planar shape along an axial direction 57 across the encircling joint 37.

Referring to FIG. 2, tether 19 may connect by suitable connection mechanisms between first and second pieces 11 and 15. For example, a nipple 13 may extend coaxially with axis 91, nipple 13 being pierced laterally to define a passage 93 for tether to tie around as shown. As well, second piece 15 may have a hole 16 bored from receptacle 17 to second tether end 23 coaxial with axis 91, and tether 19 may be inserted into hole 16 and tied in a knot larger than the diameter of hole 16. Hole 16 is also shown in FIG. 4. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate another suitable mechanism of connecting tether 19 to first piece 11 via a hole 18 drilled laterally through first tether end 22. Tether 19 may be passed through hole 18 and tied off. Other suitable connection mechanisms may be used.

Each skill toy 10 may have more than one set of corresponding male and female members. A user may manipulate skill toy 10 skillfully in order to perform one or more juggling tricks. A user may practice with the toy to improve upon specific skills such as hand-eye coordination, balance, and flexibility. The user of a juggling toy improves upon these skills by learning increasingly complex and creative juggling tricks. Some embodiments of the skill toy are advantageous because such skill toys 10 are compact and portable when the male and female pieces are fit together to form the capsule shape. Some embodiments contain no intricate or easily breakable parts, thus providing a durable toy that will not easily break if dropped.

In some embodiments, the user can hold any part or parts of the toy while manipulating the other part or parts to perform juggling tricks. Having the two or more parts of the toy strung together minimizes the chance that one part of the toy will be dropped in the event a juggling trick is not successfully completed, and it also presents the user with unique juggling trick possibilities involving manipulation of the string.

In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles “a” and “an” before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims. 

1. A skill toy comprising: a first piece having a male member extended from a male mating end and having a first tether end opposite the male mating end; a second piece having a receptacle in a female mating end and having a second tether end opposite the female mating end; and a tether connected between the first tether end and the second tether end.
 2. The skill toy of claim 1 in which the first piece has a first center of gravity closer to the male mating end than the first tether end, and the second piece has a second center of gravity closer to the female mating end than the second tether end.
 3. The skill toy of claim 2 in which the first tether end and the second tether end are convex.
 4. The skill toy of claim 3 in which the first tether end and the second tether end are hemi-spherical.
 5. The skill toy of claim 2 in which the first center of gravity is closer than or equal to the first tether end than to a tip end defined by the male member.
 6. The skill toy of claim 1 in which the first piece has a first encircling sidewall, the second piece has a second encircling sidewall, and the skill toy has a mated position in which the male member is inserted into the receptacle.
 7. The skill toy of claim 6 in which the first encircling sidewall is adjacent and flush in relation to the second encircling sidewall along an encircling joint defined between the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall when the skill toy is in the mated position.
 8. The skill toy of claim 7 in which all outer surfaces of a mated combination of the first piece and second piece are convex or planar when in the mated position.
 9. The skill toy of claim 6 in which the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall are cylindrical in shape.
 10. The skill toy of claim 9 in which the mated combination has a capsule shape.
 11. The skill toy of claim 6 in which each of the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall form a geometric shape in cross section.
 12. The skill toy of claim 6 in which a plane of symmetry is defined through a transition mating surface zone between the first piece and the second piece when in the mated position.
 13. The skill toy of claim 6 in which the female mating end has a planar or concave landing surface surrounding the receptacle, and the second encircling sidewall shares a perimeter edge with the female mating end, in which the planar or concave landing surface is sized sufficient to statically support the first piece in an unmated position.
 14. A skill toy comprising: a first piece having a first end, a first encircling sidewall, and a male member extended from the first end; a second piece having a second end, a second encircling sidewall, and a receptacle in the second end; and a tether connected between the first piece and the second piece; the skill toy having a mated position in which the male member is inserted within the receptacle and the first encircling sidewall is adjacent and flush in relation to the second encircling sidewall along an encircling joint defined between the first encircling sidewall and the second encircling sidewall.
 15. The skill toy of claim 14 in which all outer surfaces of a mated combination of the first piece and second piece are convex or planar when in the mated position.
 16. The skill toy of claim 14 in which respective transitional surfaces, of the first encircling sidewall and second encircling sidewalls, adjacent the encircling joint collectively define a concave or planar shape along an axial direction across the encircling joint.
 17. The skill toy of claim 14 in which the first encircling sidewall shares a first perimeter edge with the first end, the second encircling sidewall shares a second perimeter edge with the second end, and the first perimeter edge contacts the second perimeter edge to define the encircling joint when in the mated position.
 18. A skill toy comprising: a first piece having a male member extended from the first piece; a second piece having a second end, with a planar or concave landing surface surrounding a receptacle in the second end, and an encircling sidewall sharing a perimeter edge with the second end; and a tether connected between the first piece and the second piece; in which the planar or concave landing surface is sized sufficient to statically support the first piece in an unmated position.
 19. The skill toy of claim 18 in which the male member is extended from a first end, of the first piece, opposite a first tether end, the second end of the second piece is opposite a second tether end, and the tether is connected between the first tether end and the second tether end. 